Shoot, stall, and resume

mid-day recently reported about delays in the shoot of the Akshay Kumar-led Welcome to the Jungle (No time to slow down, June 18). While many insiders were concerned about the non-payment of dues amid logistical and financial hiccups, producers insisted that the real culprit was the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Sources close to the makers, on Wednesday, said that the tension between India and Pakistan, following Operation Sindoor, disrupted the Kashmir shoot. A source revealed, “Seventy per cent of the shoot of Welcome to the Jungle is already done. The remaining 30 per cent was to be scheduled in Kashmir, but because of the unfortunate Pahalgam attack, the plan got pushed. The entire schedule was locked, which included helicopters, over 250 horses with horses with riders, and 1200 junior artistes. But, [now] everything is on track, and all 34 actors are excited and set to commence the last marathon schedule and will begin post-rains in a different location.”

Get an Aadhaar card already, Teddy

Ed Sheeran and Shah Rukh Khan

Ed Sheeran’s latest single Sapphire, a cross-cultural collaboration with Arijit Singh, has already created waves — not least for Shah Rukh Khan’s surprise cameo. Taking to Instagram, Ed revealed, “The Hindi song was for a Bollywood movie SRK is doing, this is the Punjabi version of Sapphire with Arijit. I’m just doing all languages at this point.” The English singer-songwriter, whose fanbase in India has grown steadily post his recent tour, also hinted at a possible Bollywood debut. In a behind-the-scenes video from the shoot, Ed is seen recording lines in Punjabi and discussing his attempt at singing in Hindi. “Bigger things are coming,” he teased, sending desi fans into a frenzy.